Abstract
The relationships between storability and contents of phenols, total ascorbic acid (TAA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), and L-ascorbic acid (AsA) in eggplant fruits (Solanum melongena) of 4 cultivars 'Senryo 2 gou', 'Shiro-daiennasu', 'Sensyu-mizunasu', 'Black beauty' were studied. Unripe fruits (U. F.), marketing size fruits (M. S. F.), and overripe fruits (O. F.) were harvested in summer or fall. The contents of phenols, TAA DHA and AsA were high with U. F. than M. S. F. or O. F. in all cultivars in both summer and fall.These contents of 'Senryo 2 gou' eggplant fruits did not change extensively during storage at 20°C at all growing stages. The phenol contents in U. F. and M.S. F. showing chilling injury had a sharp increase by 3rd day of storage at it and then decreased. The phenol contents in O. F. showing less chilling injury did not change during storage at it. The contents of TAA and DHA in U. F. decreased rapidly on the 1st day of storage at 1°C and then increased thereafter, while the AsA content in U. F. continued to decrease. The contents of TAA, DHA and AsA in M. S. F. and O. F. decreased slightly at 1°C.
